The Monero Monitor Podcast

Latest Episodes:

E16 - Mimblewimble with Andrew Poelstra Dec 05, 2017

In July 2016, an unknown developer going by the name "Tom Elvis Jedusor" dropped a link to a Tor hidden service on the bitcoin-wizards IRC channel. In it, he revealed a new protocol dubbed "Mimblewimble" after the tongue-tying curse in Harry Potter, because "it is used to prevent the blockchain from talking about all user's information".

In the time since, multiple researchers and developers have continued to flesh out and build on Jedusor's innovation, in many respects led by Andrew Poelstra, a Bitcoin developer and mathematician at Blockstream.

This deep dive with Andrew covers the technical details of Mimblewimble's scaling and privacy-enhancing features, discusses the real world logistics of using the protocol, and looks at some of the coolest features enabled by the technology. We discuss how Bulletproofs can help both Mimblewimble and Monero better scale, and also touch on how ValueShuffle might further improve privacy in Mimblewimble.

If you enjoy the show and want to learn more about Mimblewimble, check out www.mimblewimble.cash. Be sure to also check out our transcript of today's show!

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Support the show by donating today on our website!

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Music featured in the show is "The Grind" by Justin Maher and used under a Creative Commons License. https://musopen.org/music/1652/justin-mahar/the-grind/

E15 - GloBee with Ric Spagni, Ray Prince, and Pat Spitalieri Nov 16, 2017

We're back! Riccardo "fluffypony" Spagni (CEO), Raymond Prince (Operations Manager), and Patrizio Spitalieri (Support Manager) join the show to talk about their online payments startup GloBee.com. We discuss the hows and whys of GloBee's service, their position in the greater Monero ecosystem, and touch on the Super Secret GloBee Project on the horizon!

If you're interested in learning more about GloBee, check them out at GloBee.com or @GloBeeCom on Twitter. Or tweet Ric (@fluffypony), Ray (@RayPrinceVII), or Pat (@Patrizio23) directly!

Today's episode also begins a scaling back of the podcast for a little while. We love the show, but other commitments (touched on in this episode!) are limiting our ability to produce bi-weekly episodes. Look for about one episode per month moving forward; if and when we can scale back up to bi-weekly shows, we will! Thanks for all the support!

Support the show by donating XMR today:

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Music featured in the show is "The Grind" by Justin Maher and used under a Creative Commons License. https://musopen.org/music/1652/justin-mahar/the-grind/

E14 - John Tromp on Cuckoo Cycle PoW & John McAfee on Monero Sep 26, 2017

This week's episode is a two-parter!

First up, I talk with John Tromp, inventor of the Cuckoo Cycle Proof of Work algorithm. We discuss what it means to be an egalitarian proof of work and how Cuckoo Cycle targets consumer hardware rather than industrial ASICs. We talk about the puzzle being solved by the algorithm itself, and also discuss what types of performance we should expect with optimized CPU and GPU mining software.

After that, I'm very excited to share a short conversation I had with John McAfee about Monero. He's been mentioning Monero on a number of TV networks lately, and we talk about why he likes the project.

Related Links:

John Tromp's blog is https://tromp.github.io/
The Cuckoo Cycle project can be found at https://github.com/tromp/cuckoo/
An interesting article on Cuckoo Cycle is at http://cryptorials.io/beyond-hashcash-proof-work-theres-mining-hashing/

Support the show by donating XMR today:

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Music featured in the show is "The Grind" by Justin Maher and used under a Creative Commons License. https://musopen.org/music/1652/justin-mahar/the-grind/

E13 - Over-the-counter Monero trading with LocalMonero.co Sep 10, 2017

On this week's episode, I talk with LocalMonero.co co-founder Alex about the launch of their new platform, how the service works, whether we can trust them, and a bit about who they are. We talk about why they are for now choosing to stay anonymous and the complications that can cause, and we talk about the Monero community's response to their service so far. We also get into why they chose to locate in Hong Kong, as well as a bit about Hong Kong's place in the cryptocurrency space. Listen in and then reach out to Alex about the service and me about the episode!

Music featured in the show is "The Grind" by Justin Maher and used under a Creative Commons License. https://musopen.org/music/1652/justin-mahar/the-grind/

Support the show by donating XMR:

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E12 - Bithumb, LocalMonero, Globee, RuffCT, IRS Coin Tracking, T-Swift, US Debt Ceiling, and more! Aug 28, 2017

The past week has been quite eventful for Monero and Bitcoin. I'm rejoined by my friend who talked with us in Episode 7 about the Satoshi white paper and we try to make sense of it all. Join us as we talk about Bithumb adding Monero to their exchange, the debut of LocalMonero.co, Globee's ninja launch, RuffCT, the IRS tracing 50% of all Bitcoin transactions, Taylor Swift's new single, and lots more. Also get an inside scoop on what to expect from some of our upcoming episodes.

E11 - Reflecting back and looking forward. Where do we go from here? Aug 15, 2017

Today's episode is shorter than normal. I won't be interviewing anyone or talking about another project. Instead, this episode focuses on the podcast itself. I talk about what I'm trying to do with the show, some assumptions I make about you my listeners, and where I hope this podcast fits into the space. I also offer some thoughts on how we all should evaluate the space we find ourselves in today, with ICOs and hype aplenty.

Songs in the show are "Little ICO" (thanks @tradewithdave and @mikeinspace) and "Pumpers Pumpin'".

Music featured in the show is "The Grind" by Justin Maher and used under a Creative Commons License. https://musopen.org/music/1652/justin-mahar/the-grind/

Interested in trying out cloud computing? Visit https://moneromonitor.com/do for info on how to get $10 towards your first compute node at DigitalOcean (where we host our site!).

Enjoy the show? Please consider donating:

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E10 - Defending Privacy - Coin Center's Advocacy to US Regulators and Lawmakers Aug 01, 2017

Have you ever wondered what the attitudes of lawmakers and regulators are towards privacy issues with Bitcoin and privacy-focused cryptocurrencies like Monero? This past week, I traveled to Coin Center in Washington, DC to talk with Jerry Brito (Coin Center's Executive Director) and Peter Van Valkenburgh (Research Director) about the regulatory environment and congressional attitudes towards privacy-centric projects in the space.

In this episode, we talk about recent headlines including the Coinbase/IRS John Doe summons case and the Uniform Law Commission's recent cryptocurrency model state law work. Then we talk about financial surveillance law and how privacy projects fit within the regulatory environment in the United States, the importance of distinguishing between open and closed blockchains, and how the Monero community might be able to get involved in Coin Center's advocacy.

Whether you're an American wondering about your rights or about the legal issues with cryptocurrencies or are from another country and simply interested in gaining an insight into American attitudes towards these projects, this episode offers over an hour of in depth and thoughtful information.

If you're interested in reading more about Jerry and Peter's work, check out CoinCenter.org. There you can find the Open Matters paper we discussed in the episode and much more.

Music featured in the show is "The Grind" by Justin Maher and used under a Creative Commons License. https://musopen.org/music/1652/justin-mahar/the-grind/

Interested in trying out cloud computing? Visit https://moneromonitor.com/do for info on how to get $10 towards your first compute node at DigitalOcean (where we host our site!).

Enjoy the show? Please consider donating:

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E09 - What is Changelly? An interview with CEO Konstantin Gladych. Jul 16, 2017

Over the past three years, a wide variety of companies have gotten involved in the Monero ecosystem. Some companies have very public-facing PR groups, founders, or community liaisons, but others have chosen to keep more quiet. Today, I talk with the CEO of a company that to date has taken much more the latter strategy, Changelly. At over two years old, and over a year open to the general public, Changelly is a bit like ShapeShift, though has some notable differences. Konstantin Gladych and I sat down and chatted for a while about his company, their various partners and affiliates, growing pains, and future plans. Give the show a listen and give us your feedback about Changelly.

Music featured in the show is "The Grind" by Justin Maher and used under a Creative Commons License. https://musopen.org/music/1652/justin-mahar/the-grind/

Enjoy the show? Please consider donating:

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Interested in trying out cloud computing? Visit https://moneromonitor.com/do for info on how to get $10 towards your first compute node at DigitalOcean (where we host our site!).

E08 - Monero Uncensored with guest Chris DeRose Jul 03, 2017

Today, I talk with Chris DeRose of the Bitcoin Uncensored YouTube show and podcast about changes he's undergoing with his show, his thoughts on the Monero community and the potential future Monero needs to plan for, and the movements of the cryptocurrency space in general. If you're unfamiliar with Chris, check out his YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/user/cderose36/.

Get a deeper glimpse into what makes Chris tick, find out why he recently wrote a letter to the SEC about the ongoing ICO crazy in Ethereum, and why he's been so friendly towards Monero as of late. Today's show is a bit edgy, so maybe don't listen around the little ones!

Interested in trying out cloud computing? Visit https://moneromonitor.com/do for info on how to get $10 towards your first compute node at DigitalOcean (where we host this site!).

Music featured in the show is "The Grind" by Justin Maher and used under a Creative Commons License. https://musopen.org/music/1652/justin-mahar/the-grind/

Enjoy the show? Please consider donating:

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E07 - Required Reading - Deep dive of the Satoshi White Paper for newcomers and veterans alike Jun 19, 2017

This episode introduces a new type of show to the series, "Required Reading." From time to time we'll devote a show to analyzing an important paper or document relevant to Bitcoin and Monero, and try to come away with a more detailed understanding of the material. The goal then is to serve as a detailed introduction to the material for newcomers and in depth review for people that are already familiar with the space.

For our first Required Reading episode, we'll explore the original Satoshi white paper, which introduced Bitcoin to the world. The paper is really the defining document of the cryptocurrency space, and lays out the innovation of Bitcoin. But what was that innovation? What is a blockchain, and why should I care? Why should I trust it? Join us for the show as we read through the paper and discuss the groundbreaking innovation of Bitcoin. Then, we'll talk a bit about the cryptocurrency space today, and some basic advice for people just getting into the space.

There won't be a transcript for today's show. You can access the original Satoshi white paper at https://www.bitcoin.org/bitcoin.pdf. Check it out, read along, and get in touch on social media!

E06 - A fireside chat with Justin "SamsungGalaxyPlayer" Ehrenhofer Jun 04, 2017

Join us as we check in with Justin Ehrenhofer, a.k.a. SamsungGalaxyPlayer, to hear about his adventures as an increasingly well known Monero community member. We talk about his efforts at building a university cryptocurrency club at the University of Minnesota, contributions to Monero-related documentation and public communications, and recent travels throughout Europe to talk about Monero with anyone that will listen. Find out why he got involved, his thoughts on recent happenings in the Monero space, and how you can help his efforts.

Music featured in the show is "The Grind" by Justin Maher and used under a Creative Commons License. https://musopen.org/music/1652/justin-mahar/the-grind/

Enjoy the show? Please consider donating:

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E05 - Blockchain-Backed Loans with SALT Lending May 21, 2017

Have you ever wanted cash for a project or purchase but weren't ready or willing to liquidate your Bitcoin, Monero, or other coin holdings? Would you be interested in a way to leverage your cryptocurrency through a collateralized loan to increase your spending power?

In this week's episode, I traveled to the headquarters of startup SALT Lending in Denver, CO to talk with Shawn Owen (CEO) and Caleb Slade (Creative & Community Director) about their new blockchain-backed loans platform, launching soon. Find out why they say SALT will provide a secure, private way to borrow against your cryptocurrency holdings, and how you might become either a borrower or lender with their service.

Music featured in the show is "The Grind" by Justin Maher and used under a Creative Commons License. https://musopen.org/music/1652/justin-mahar/the-grind/

Enjoy the show? Please consider donating:

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E04 - Cryptocurrencies and capitalism, a shape-shifting landscape - with Erik Voorhees. May 08, 2017

In today's show, ShapeShift.io founder Erik Voorhees tells us about his libertarian roots, path to being a Bitcoin entrepreneur, his vision for ShapeShift, and cryptocurrency venture capitalism. How do we fix the global monetary system, how has the ShapeShift's exchange volume evolved over time, and what responsibilities does ShapeShift have in vetting coins added to the platform? Find out with us today!

Music featured in the show is "The Grind" by Justin Maher and used under a Creative Commons License. https://musopen.org/music/1652/justin-mahar/the-grind/

Enjoy the show? Please consider donating:

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E03 - Betting on Bitcoin and Monero with the co-founder of LuckyBit and XMR.to. The "binary fate" of a cryptocurrency entrepreneur. Apr 24, 2017

In this week's episode, I talk to BinaryFate, the co-founder of the LuckyBit online Bitcoin casino, Cryptosphere Systems, and XMR.to about his involvement in cryptocurrencies. Find out about NP-hard problems, overcoming miner censorship, and the future of LuckyBit and XMR.to. We even do a bit of fortune telling, discussing a hypothetical app that between the taping and airing of this episode came to life via a third party!

Music featured in the show is "The Grind" by Justin Maher and used under a Creative Commons License. https://musopen.org/music/1652/justin-mahar/the-grind/

Enjoy the show? Please consider donating:

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E02 - Saving NASA, OpenLDAP/LMDB, Monero Direct, and why Monero is the only true cryptocurrency Apr 10, 2017

Today we're joined by Howard "hyc" Chu, CTO and Founder of Symas Corp, core member of the OpenLDAP development team, and co-founder of MoneroDirect.com to talk about his background and involvement in Monero. We talk about how Howard helped develop the world's fastest directory software, became involved in the Monero project, and saved a NASA shuttle mission. Find out why Howard claims Monero, and not Bitcoin, is the world's only true cryptocurrency.

Today's show includes a duet compiled by Howard and featuring his friend Nerea, used with their permission. You can follow Nerea's music on her facebook page, facebook.com/crazyfiddlelady.

Music featured in the show is "The Grind" by Justin Maher and used under a Creative Commons License. https://musopen.org/music/1652/justin-mahar/the-grind/

Enjoy the show? Please consider donating:

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E01 - A random walk with Riccardo "fluffyponyza" Spagni Mar 27, 2017

Welcome to the first episode of the Monero Monitor Podcast! With this show, I hope to more deeply explore the Monero space. While some podcasts have featured talks on the Monero protocol specifically, we'll be talking about the people, projects, and general happenings surrounding not just the core Monero project but the Monero community as a whole.

To kick off the show, I was joined by Riccardo "fluffyponyza" Spagni to talk about some of his involvement in the cryptocurrency space. Many know him best as a member of the Monero Core Development Team, but today we talk about a number of other projects he's been involved in, either in the past or as an ongoing venture. Enjoy the show!

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Enjoy the show? Please consider donating:

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Music featured in the show is "The Grind" by Justin Maher and used under a Creative Commons License. https://musopen.org/music/1652/justin-mahar/the-grind/

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